Read The Coming of the Unicorn Online
Authors: Duncan Williamson
The Coming of the Unicorn (13 page)
The Travelling People of Scotland have their own way of speaking. They use many Scottish forms of English words, such as
o’
(of),
canna
or
cannae
(cannot),
no
(not) and
tellt
(told). In their speech the word “of” is often left out when they refer to quantity or amount:
plenty
(plenty of) and
wee drop
(small amount of). Sometimes the storyteller’s choice of words is influenced by the Gaelic language; for example, “was just after bringing” (had just brought) is found in the Western Highlands, where Duncan Williamson grew up. Readers will clearly understand most words and phrases in the context of the stories, but those terms more foreign to English are shown below:
| alow: | below |
| bairn: | child |
| ben: | towards the inner room |
| bit: | bit of a (the) |
| but: | and |
| burkit: | kidnapped by body-snatchers |
| by: | in comparison with |
| ceilidh: | visit for storytelling and singing |
| coup: | tip out, empty |
| cowple: | fall over, collapse |
| crack: | small talk, news, converse |
| dinna(e): | do not |
| doubt: | expect |
| dram: | small drink of whisky |
| feart: | afraid |
| forbyes: | as well as, besides |
| greet: | cry, weep |
| heck: | rack in a stable for animal feed |
| henwife: | old woman who stayed on her own and kept hens and ducks, said to have special powers |
| ken(t): | know (knew) |
| laird: | landowner |
| landed: | arrived |
| lug: | ear |
| many’s a year: | a long time |
| ower: | over |
| naebody: | anybody |
| oxter: | underarm, armpit |
| permanty: | bag, money sack |
| plooks: | pimples |
| puckle: | small amount (of) |
| raiked: | searched thoroughly through |
| set sail: | started on a journey |
| tattery: | ragged |
| tottery: | messy |
| thae: | that |
| theirself: | himself, herself |
| two-three: | a few |
| universt: | turned into one |
| weans: | children |
| wir: | our |
| wonst: | once |
| ye, ye’re: | you, you’re |
Kelpies is an imprint of Floris Books
Published in 2012 by Floris Books
© 2012 The Estate of Duncan Williamson
Duncan Williamson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the prior permission of Floris Books, 15 Harrison Gardens, Edinburgh
www.florisbooks.co.uk
British Library CIP Data available
ISBN 978–086315–936–7